School Shooting in New Mexico Marks Second Middle School Attack in Three Months

Teacher Talks Middle School Shooter into Dropping Gun

A police officer stops traffic near Agnes Risley Elementary school following a shooting at nearby Sparks Middle School October 21, 2013 in Sparks, Nevada.

Photo by David Calvert/Getty Images

A 12-year-old boy carrying a concealed gun shot and wounded two fellow students today at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, New Mexico. Both injured students, an 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, were airlifted to a Level 1 trauma center in Lubbock, TX where they are receiving treatment.

“In the 10 seconds that transpired from the time of this thing starting until the teacher had control of the weapon, there was no cowardice,” [School Superintendent Tom] Burris said. “There was protection for our kids. Everyone acted and did their duties today at Berrendo Middle School.”

Eva Gomez, Roswell Education Association president, identified eighth-grade social studies teacher John Masterson as the staff member who stopped Campbell and convinced him to put his gun down.

According to Reuters, today’s shooting was the second to take place at a U.S. middle school in three months. In October, a 12-year-old boy, opened fire at his school in Sparks, NV, killing a teacher and wounding two classmates before killing himself.

The latest event will surely add to the contentious debate surrounding gun control, which escalated following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in December of 2012. President Obama failed to win congressional support last year for sweeping new gun laws, including limits on assault rifles and background checks for gun purchases. Despite the defeat, gun control reform may still have life -- via executive order. Earlier this month, Obama signed two executive orders which make it easier for states to provide information about people with mental health issues to the federal background check system.